An hour later, Ross's group had made camp for the night.
The darkness of the forest surrounded them from every direction, yet unlike earlier in the day, there was a strange sense of peace in the air.
No beasts came to disturb them.
The creatures that roamed this land had already learned a painful lesson.
Countless powerful monsters had died at the hands of Ross and his men.
Although the beasts possessed no true intelligence, their instincts were sharp.
Every fiber of their being warned them that approaching this camp would mean certain death.
As a result, the predators that usually ruled the forest remained hidden in the darkness, watching from afar but never daring to come closer.
The camp itself was lively.
Dozens of fires had been lit throughout the area, illuminating the night and driving away the cold.
Men and women worked together preparing food while children ran around laughing and playing games.
The horrors of the day seemed distant for the moment.
